Magnetic separator



Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,679 MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Anthony E. Lavender, 200 N. Main St., Terryville, Conn. 06786 Filed Sept. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 486,386 7 Claims. (Cl. 210-222) This invention relates to a means for separating magnetizable particles from a moving fluid stream, and more particularly to a magnetic separator for use in cooling systems.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a rotating magnetic attracting means moving through a stream of fluid for removing magnetizable particles therein.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a separating means of the type described in which a rotating magnet initially attracts magnetizable particles from a moving stream of uid and in which at least some of the attracted particles are later deposited on a stationary magnet thus increasing the capacity of the separator.

Still another object of the instant invention is to prvide a magnetic separator in a convenient location whereby it may be readily removed and periodically cleaned.

A more specific object of the instant invention is to provide a magnetic separator of the type described positioned and releasably held in a T.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a balanced magnet rotatably mounted for rotation such that it may be positionedin a `stream of moving liquid and propelled thereby to expose alternating magnetic surfaces to the particle-laden stream of liquid.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction and operation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying l'drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE lV is a side elevational View of a T interiorly carrying a magnetic separator ofthe instant .invention shown in dashed lines, the T being connected to a pair of conduits also shown in dashed lines;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the T and separator of FIGURE l taken along line 2-2 thereof and viewnig in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the T and magnetic separator of FIGURES 1 and 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 viewing in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View of the T and magnetic separator of FIGURES l to 3 inclusive taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and viewing in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at a T secured to an inlet conduit 12 and an outlet conduit 14 housing a magnetic separator shown generally at 16. As may be seen most clearly from FIGURES 2 and 3, magnetic separator 16 has as its major components a frame shown generally at 18 providing a transverse axis of rotation 20 about which a rotatable magnet means shown generally at 22 rotates through the action of a stream of liquid moving from right to left as shown by the arrow in FIGURE 3. As rotating magnet 22 moves through the body of liquid in T 10, it will attract magnetizable particles, some of which are removed from rotatable magnet means 22 by a stationary magnet shown generally at 24.

T 10 includes a tubular inlet section 24 and a tubular outlet section 26 forming a longitudinal passageway 28 and an entrance conduit providing a passageway 32 communicating perpendicularly with longitudinal passageway 28. Entrance conduit 30 is formed with a plurality of threads 34 onto which a cap shown generally at 36 is releasably attached. Each of tubular sections 24, 26 is formed with an exterior circumferential rib 38 as may be seen in FIGURE l. Inlet and outlet conduits 12,-14 are secured to T 10 by a pair of releasable circumferential bands 40 positioned between rib 38 and entrance conduit 30 in a known manner. It will be seen that the connecl tion of FIGURE 1 forms a low pressure tube through which a liquid may ow, although it should be under# stood that the instant invention is not limited to low pressure applications.

Frame 18 includes a substantially oval band member, preferably of a non-magnetizable material, having depending legs 40, 42 connected together by a substantially i straight overhanging ann 44. Legs 40, 42 are provided with lower ends 46, 48 curved to closely reside the arcuate conliguration of passageway 28 las may be'seen in FIGURE 2. A shoe shown generally at 50 connects together ends 46, 48 and includes a pair of rearwardly extending arms 52, 54 attached to arms 40, 42 providing a longitudinal slot 56 below rotatable magnet means 22. Foot 5t) also includes a forwardly extending substantially semi-circular pan 58 which extends toward the inlet end of inlet conduit 24 and provides a bottom support for magnetic separator 10 .as will be more fully explained hereinafter. v l

Legs 40, 42 each form an opening v60, 62 aligned to receive a pivot pin 64, 66 attached to a shaft 68 rotatable about axis 20. Attached to the .center of shaft 68V are a pair of oppositely extending shanks 70, 72 carrying a cylindrical permanent magnet V74, 76. It will be seen that rotatable magnet means'22, which comprises Shanks 70, '72 and magnets 74, 76 is balanced and isrotated about axis 20 by a mounting means including shaft 68 and pins 64, 66.

It will be seen that a moving fluid within longitudinal passageway 28 will rotate magnet means22 asmay lbe. seen by the arrows in FIGURE 3 with each of magnets 74, 76 being submerged in the moving stream to attract magnetizable particles. It will be apparent that magnets 74, 76 have a given capacity for attracting and holding magnetizable particles. After this limit has been reached magnets 74, 76 are quite ineicient allowing a considerable number of particles to pass separator 16. Accordingly, stationary magnet 24 is positioned on frame 18 for removing certain ones of the particles magnetically attached to magnets 74, 76.

Stationary magnet 24 includes a rectangularly congured bar magnet 78 of substantially greater strength than cylindrical magnets 74, 76 and is secured to straight arm 44 by a at head screw 80. Screw 80 is sldably received by bar magnet 78 with a keeper 82 threadably receiving screw as may be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. Bar magnet 78 is positioned adjacent the top of passageway 32 closely adjacent magnet 74 when it is in the upstanding position. Magnetic separator 16 is positioned in T 10 located in a flowing stream of liquid having magnetizable particles contained therein with magnet means 22 being rotated by the moving stream such that magnets 74, 76 sequentially pass through the moving liquid stream and then pass adjacent stationary magnet means 24. During the movement of magnets 74, 76 within the moving stream of liquid they will attract magnetizable particles therein. The forces of these particles will include the magnetic forces attracting the particles to the magnets, a centrifugal force tending to dislodge particles from magnets 74, 76 gravitational forces, and the forces created by the moving liquid stream. When each of magnets 74, 76 approaches bar magnet 78 the much higher magnetic force of magnet 78 coupled with the centrifugal force imparted to magnetic particles adhered to magnets 74, 76 will tend to remove such particles from rotating magnet means 22 and deposit them upon stationary magnet means 24.

If magnetic separator 16 is utilized in a cooling system or the like .of an intermittently operated machine, it may be removed and cleaned by threadably removing cap 36 and dislodging separator 16 from a releasable securing means shown generally at 84. If magnetic separator 16 is utilized in a continuously operable device, a by-pass may be constructed around T such that cap 36 may be removed without interrupting the operating cycles.

Releasable securing means 84 includes a pair of aligned guides 86 each forming an aligned slot 88 receiving legs 40, 42 of frame 18. In order to remove magnetic separator 16, it is necessary only to threadably remove cap 28 and pull upwardly on bar magnet 74 or keeper 82. After magnets 74, 76, 78 have been cleaned, as by wiping or by subjecting them to a greatly increased magnetic force, magnetic separator 16 may be reinserted into T 10 by re- Y engaging legs 40, 42 ,of frame 18 into slots 88 of releasable securing means 84.

It will be seen that releasable securing means 84 and foot 80 of frame 18 act to position axis of rotation 20 above the longitudinal axis of passageway 28. Doing so insures that magnet means 22 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows since the entirety of the lower magnet will be subjected tothe kinetic forces created by the moving liquid stream. It should also be noted that the vertical axis of frame 18 and rotatable magnetic means 22 coincide with the vertical axis o f passageway 32 thus allowing the maximum rotary sweep of magnets 74 76.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved magnetic separator having all of the objects of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and ,commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modilications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A magnetic separator comprising a fluid conduit, a frame providing an axis of rotation transverse to said conduit, a balanced magnet means rotatably mounted about said axis forming an arc of rotation, said magnet means secured to said frame in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation spaced from said axis closely adjacent said arc of rotation, said magnet means including a magnet having a shank, an enlarged magnet fixed at each end of said shank and a center of gravity, said center of gravity lying on said axis of rotation. Y

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said enlarged magnet includes a cylindrically shaped magnet having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

3. The structure of lclaim 1 wherein said frame includes alpair of depending legs having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said transverse Vaxis being parallel to said axis of rotation of said magnet means.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said magnetic separator is positioned in a T having a longitudinal passageway and a substantially perpendicular entrance conduit with said longitudinal axis of said frame extending toward said entrance conduit, and transverse axis of said frame being perpendicular to said longitudinal passageway,

5. The structure of claim 4 including means releasably securing said separator frame in said T.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said releasable securing means includes at least one guide in a portion of said entrance conduit slidably receiving said depending legs of said frame.

7. The structure of claim 6 including a foot secured to said depending legs supporting said frame lfrom said longit-udinal passageway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1951 Caldwell 210-.-222 9/ 1954 Anderson l 21,0-222 

1. A MAGNETIC SEPARATOR COMPRISING A FLUID CONDUIT, A FRAME PROVIDING AN AXIS OF ROTATION TRANSVERSE TO SAID CONDUIT, A BALANCED MAGNET MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ABOUT SAID AXIS FORMING AN ARC OF ROTATION, SAID MAGNET MEANS SECURED TO SAID FRAME IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS OR ROTATION SPACED FROM SAID AXIS CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID ARC OF ROTATION, SAID MAGNET MEANS INCLUDING A MAGNET HAVING A SHANK, AN ENLARGED MAGNET FIXED AT EACH END OF SAID SHANK AND A CENTER OF GRAVITY, SAID CENTER OF GRAVITY LYING ON SAID AXIS OF ROTATION. 